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Thousands Displaced, Seeking Medical Aid Following Torrential Rain, Flooding in Dominican Republic

Direct Relief is providing medical support to local organizations after extreme weather has impacted parts of the country. Recent emergency medical aid builds on more than $18 million in support to organizations in the Dominican Republic over the past year.

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Dominican Republic

A medical staff member with Fundación Solidaria del Divino Niño Jesús takes the vital signs of a patient during a community medical outreach in the Dominican Republic. (Courtesy photo)

Over 30,000 residents were asked to evacuate northwest Dominican Republic after the Caribbean nation endured torrential rains in early April.

Since the first storms, rains continued into May, creating dangerous conditions in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. At least 19 people have died from the severe weather, and thousands more have been displaced. The ongoing rain has caused extreme flooding, and widespread damage to local infrastructure, including residential properties, roadways, and bridges.

In response to the ongoing weather event, Direct Relief is preparing a shipment of critical medicines, medical supplies, cold chain equipment, nutrition assistance, and personal care items to help displaced residents in the Dominican Republic.

Medical aid is prepared for the Dominican Republic. (Direct Relief)

Direct Relief is working with Fundación Solidaria del Divino Niño Jesús, or FSDNJ, a long-time partner organization in the country. FSDNJ is responding in the Puerto Plata region and coordinating with country officials and agencies, including the Ministry of Health, healthcare facilities, and shelters, to distribute Direct Relief-donated products and provide healthcare services.

In addition to more than $18 million in medical support provided to organizations in the Dominican Republic over the past year, Direct Relief supported the expansion of cold chain storage for critical medications.

El Niño, Extreme Weather, and Health Impacts

Excessive rain and flood conditions can create conditions for waterborne and communicable diseases to thrive. Nearly 5,000 residents in the Dominican Republic are expected to need medical support for gastrointestinal and diarrheal diseases, respiratory infections, skin infections, dengue, and other mosquito-related diseases. Residents with diabetes and hypertension also need access to care and critical medications.   

Weather experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Prediction Center anticipate El Niño conditions to begin rising now through July and persist through the end of the year. In an El Niño year, atmospheric pressure causes unusually warm water and air temperatures. The heightened temperatures can increase the likelihood and strength of hurricane conditions, the possibility of droughts and wildfires, and can have long-term effects on marine ecosystems. All of these extreme weather conditions can be hazardous to health outcomes.

Most frequently, El Niño can cause heatwaves and excessive rain that create flood-like conditions. These natural disasters can increase the opportunity for vector-borne diseases like malaria and allow mosquito populations to flourish.

Direct Relief will continue responding with requested medicines, medical supplies, cold chain equipment, and nutrition assistance to support the flood response in the country.

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